Machine for severing tags



Feb. 26, 1952 J. A. CARLSON 2,587,030

MACHINE FOR SEVERING TAGS 2 SHEETSSHEET 1 Filed Sept. 30, 1947 56 'l 54 s 94 4o .90 M

74 I1 ,W 510 gaZQslzZ I INVENTOR.

n/0A0 4 (Ev/son HTTOR/VEV Patented Feb. 26, 1952 MACHINE FOR SEVERING TAGS Johan A. Carlson; Ashland, Mass, assignor to Ray Brothers (36., Ashland, Mass.,

tion of 'Massachustts Application. September 30, 1947;, Serial No. 777,079

This invention relates to a. machine for P ing and severing tags.

The invention has for an object to prov de a novel and improved tag printing and-severing machine characterized by thev provision of novel means for partially severing a predetermined and selected number of tags to form a strip of, detach ably connected tags.

With this general object in view and such others as may hereinafter appear, thev invention consists in the tag printing and severing machine, and in the various structures, arrange,- ments and combinations of parts hereinafter described and particularly defined in the claims at the end of this specification.

In the drawings illustrating the preferred embodiment of the invention, Fig. 1 is a front ele vation of a tag printing and severing machine embodying the present invention; Fig. 2 illus trates a strip of detachably connected tags 'produced in accordance with the present invention Fig. 3 is an end view of the severing mechanism as viewed from the left hand side of Fig. 1' and shown upon an enlarged scale; Fig. 4 is a front elevation of the mechanism shown in Fig. 3;'Fig

v.5 is a rear elevation of the mechanism for 'selectively adjusting the machine to produce astrip embodying a predetermined number of detachably connected tags; Fig. 6 isa plan View of a gauge shown in Fig. 5.; and Fig. 7 is a front elevation of a portion of the mechanism shownin Fig. 3 in a difierent position of operation.

In general the present invention contemplates a novel and improved tag printing and severing machine of the general type illustrated and described in the United States patent to Johan, A. Carlson, No. 2,076,054, issued April 6, 1937. In such prior machines provision was made for intermittently advancing and printing a contin,- uous strip of tag forming material and for severing successive individual tag forming portions of the strip to produce a plurality of individual printed tags. In practice, when a relatively small number of tags comprising a set were. thus printed and individually severed, the loose tags were difficult to handle and likely to become separated. and. lost. Prior to the present invention it has, been the practice to enclose the loose set of individual tags in an envelope to keep them together during. shipment and until ready for use. ,i In accordance with the presentinvention pro--v vision is made for producing a stripv comprising. a series of detachably connected tags by partially severing the strip each time it'isadvanced between successive tag forming portions, leaving a relatively small unseveredand connecting por tion between successive tags of the set. Thisjportion may be easily torn to. separate the; individual tags for use thus assuring that the-stripzofrtagss will remain together in a set during shipment a corpora- 20 Claims. (01.16%42) 2 and until ready for use and eliminating the neces'sity for packagingthe tags in sets to keep them together. I

Provision is further made in the preferred embodiment of the invention for selectively adjusting the severing means to provide a predetermined number of tags in the cletachably connected series and for controlling the severing means to. efiect complete severance of the detachably connected set from the tag forming strip? after the selected number of tags has been printed and partially severed.

Referring now to the drawings the present invention is herein illustrated as embodied in a tag printing and severing machine of the type illustrated and described in the Carlson Patent No. 2,076,064 above referred to, and, except as to, details hereinafter described may comprise the machine shown in said patent to which reference may be had.

As herein illustrated, the machine in general comprisesa base I9 having a standard l2 for supporting a, supply roll I4 of a continuous strip of tag forming material it. Thestrip It may be guided from the supply roll I4 around a guide roll. 18 and into a horizontal guide-way 2d attached to the upper surface of the base it and through which guideway the strip is arranged to be; intermittently advanced one tag width each cycle of operation. The tag strip I6 is preferably notched at equally spaced intervals along its longitudinal edges, as indicated at 22, 2 in Fig. 2, the spaces between the notches defining the width of the individual tags to be printed and out, The notched portions 22 on one side of the strip are preferably arranged for cooperation with the mechanism for intermittently advancingthe strip, as illustrated and described in the Carlson, patent above referred to. 40

The tag printing and severing machine is herein illustrated asbeing manually operated by the rotation of a hand wheel 23, each rotation of the Wheel comprising one cycle of operation. In the" operation of the machine, when a set of tags istobeprinted, the strip is advanced to present the foremost tag at a station 25 immediately preceding the printing station. Thereafter, during the. firstv cycle of operation, the foremost tag is advanced into operative relation to the printing mechanism and the foremost tag is printed. As herein shown, the printing mechanism. indicated generally-atZB comprises a printing die 28 detachablysecured to a vertically reciprocating 32, mounted on the base Iil. The type carrier is arranged to be reciprocated to effect printing of the-tag'during the time in the cycle when the strip is stationary through the mechanism illustype carrier 30 slidably supported in a bracket trated-and described in the Carlson patent. During the succeeding cycle of operation, the tag strip is advanced one tag width to present the foremost tag to an intermediate station 33, between the printing station and a tag severing station indicated generally at 34, with the forward edge of the foremost tag in alignment with the cutter blade 36 of the severing mechanism. While thus disposed, the second tag of the strip is printed. During the next cycle of operation, the tag strip is advanced to present the foremost tag in operative position to be cut with the rear edge of the foremost tag in alignment with the cutter blade 36, and, during the stationary portion of the cycle, the cutter blade operates on the foremost tag and simultaneously therewith a third tag is printed. Thus, in operation it will be seen that two tags are printed before the foremost tag is presented to the cutter blade 36 and that a third tag is printed during the operation of the cutter.

In the operation of the machine, when a relatively small number of tags are to be printed, it is the usual practice to start the operation with the foremost tag of the strip at the station 25 preceding the printing station 26 and during the first cycle of operation the foremost tag is advanced and printed, succeeding tags being advanced and printed during succeeding cycles until the selected number of tags have been printed. The machine is then stopped, the printing die 28 is removed, and the machine operated two more cycles to present the last printed tag to the cutter mechanism. Thereafter, before a new printing operation is started, the strip must be retracted a distance equal to the width of two tags, and this may be accomplished by reversing the rotation of the hand wheel 23, to again present the foremost tag at the station 25 preceding the printing station. The detachable printing die is then replaced in the type carrier 30 in readiness for printing a succeeding set of tags. The above described mode of operation of the tag printing and cutting machine is preferably followed in the present machine and should be considered during the following description of the novel cutting mechanism and control therefor for forming a set of a selected and predetermined number of detachably connected tags.

Referring now particularly to Figs. 3, 4 and 5, provision is made for operating the cutter 36 to effect partial severance of a predetermined and selected number of tags by slitting the tag strip along the lines of severance as indicated at 35, 31, leaving relatively small unsevered connecting portions 39 between successive tags of the set, and for thereafter effecting complete severance of the last tag of the set. As herein shown, the present severing mechanism includes the cutter blade 36 secured to a rocker arm 40 pivotally mounted at 42 and arranged to cooperate with a stationary cutter block 44 secured to the base 10. The blade 36 is provided with a cut-out portion or notch 46 intermediate its ends arranged to straddle a portion of the tag during the slitting operation to leave the small connecting portion 39, and as herein shown, the blade is arranged to be rocked through connections to the vertically reciprocating type carrier 30.

As best shown in Fig. 3, the connection to the type carrier 30 includes a toggle linkage comprising an upper link 48 mounted on a pin 50 secured to and extending from a block 52 attached to the reciprocating carrier frame 30, and, a lower link 54 pivotally connected to the cutter blade rocker arm 40 at 55 and connected to the upper link by a pivot pin 56. The lower link 4 54 is provided with an extended portion 58 having a pin 60 arranged to extend into a slot 52 formed in the upper link 48. The upper link 48 is further provided with a spring 64 tending to urge the link 48 in a clockwise direction viewing Fig. 3, the spring 64 being coiled about the pin 50 and having one end secured in the link 48 and 1 the other end in a collar 66 adjustably secured to the pin 50 by a set screw 68, as clearly shown in Fi 4.

In the operation of the cutter mechanism thus far described, it will be seen that the toggle linkage is normally maintained in a bent or shortened position by virtue of the spring 64 urging the upper link in a clockwise direction and urging the pivotally connected lower link in a counterclockwise direction with relation to its pivot 55. The relative movement of the links in such direction may be limited by the engagement of the pin 60,with the adjacent end of the slot 62, or, with a set screw 12 carried by the upper link and arranged to extend into the slot, as illustrated in Fig. 3, for the purpose of adjusting the extent of rocking movement of the toggle. With the toggle thus maintained in its shortened condition, when the type carrier 30 is caused to descend through a fixed stroke, the cutter blade 36 will be rocked to a substantially horizontal position to effect slitting of the tags at 35, 31 and the cut out portion 46 extends above the edge of the cutter block to leave the uncut portion 39, such position of the cutter blade being illustrated in dotted lines in Fig. 3. It will be observed that successive tags thus partially severed form a series of detachably connected tags.

After a predetermined and selected number of tags have been thus partially severed, provision is made for straightening out the toggle to lengthen the linkage and to thus effect an increase in the rocking movement of the cutter blade to extend the cut out portion 46 beyond the cutting edge of the block 44 and effect complete severance of the set of tags from the main strip l6. As herein shown, this may be accom plished by a cam 14 having a high spot 15 arranged to cooperate with a cam surface 18 formed on the upper link 48. The cam 14 is rotatably mounted on a fixed stud secured to and extending from a plate 82 attached to the side of the bracket 32 by screws 84.

Also mounted on the stud 80 is a ratchet wheel 86 arranged to cooperate with a pawl 88 adapted to rotate the cam 14 through a definite and relatively small arcuate movement each cycle of operation, and, a knurled collar 90 for initially setting the cam manually in a position such that the high spot 16 of the cam will be advanced into cooperative engagement with the upper link 48 to effect complete severance of the last ta of a series. The cam 14, ratchet wheel and knurled collar may be formed integrally to move together as a unit and are supported on the stud 80 between a collar 92 formed on the stud and a collar 94 fast on the stud. The cam unit thus supported is preferably maintained under a slight friction on the stud in a manner such as to prevent inadvertent rotation of the cam but to permit manual or mechanical rotation thereof, the cam unit remaining in the position to which it is moved. The pawl 88 is pivotally mounted at 96 in an extension 98 attached to arm 100 which in turn is secured to the pin 50 carried by the type carrier 30. Thus in operation, the pawl is caused to descend with the type carrier into cooperative engagement with its ratchet wheel 86 during each cycle of operation, to advance the cam one increment of movement about its axis 80. The pivotally mounted pawl is yieldingly maintained in a substantially vertical position for cooperation with its ratchet by a spring 502 and a pair of cooperating stop pins I04, it carried by the pawl 88 and extension 98 respectively.

From the description thus far it will be. observed that the cam 14 may be initially set so as topermit a predetermined and selected number of tags to be partially severed, the high spot, 15 of, the cam being advanced one increment each cycle of operation so that after the selected number of cycles the high spot of the cam will be urged against the cam surface 18 of the upper toggle link 48 to efiect elongation of the toggle and complete severance of the last tag; of the set.

Inorder to facilitate initial setting, of the cam '14, the latter is provided with a plurality of equallyspaced and numbered markings or notches 15, about its periphery, the number of markings cor responding to the number of teeth in the ratchet 86, herein shown as twelve, and each space is equal to the increment of arcuate advancement of the cam effected by the pawl each cycle, of operation. A pointer ['08 attached to the, bracket 32 is arranged to cooperate with the markings for setting purposes.

From the above description it will be seen that in the operation of the machine, when it isdesired to print a selected number of detachably connected tags, the cam 14 may be set with the notch having the selected number in alignment with the pointer 108. The machine is then operated for the particular number of cycles selected to perform the printing operation on the selected number of tags and to partially sever those tags which have been brought into. opera,-. tive relation to the cutter. Since the strip is not brought into operative relation to the cutter until it has advanced two stations beyond the printing station, as previously described, the printing die is now removed, and the machine is then operated for two more cycles and during the last cycle of operation, the high spot 16 of the cam, which has been advanced step by step during the partial severing operations, is brought into position to extend the toggle and effect compl te severance of the detachably connected series from the strip. The strip is then retracted for two cycles to bring theforemost tag into starting position; the printing die is replaced; and the cam is reset to prepare the machine in readiness for producing another set of tags, as previously described.

It will be observed that the notched markings of the cam are numbered to correspond to the number of tags to be printed and the high point of the cam is disposed to cooperate with the toggle the second cycle after the selected number of tags have been printed so that when, for example, a set of eleven tags are to be prod.uced,.the cam is set with the number [I to the pointer and the machine is operated for eleven cycles and after the printing die is removed the machine is operated for two more cycles making a total of thirteen cycles in order to compensate for the two cycles which the strip had previously been retracted.

In order to quickly determine when the required number of tags have been printed, without the necessity of counting oif the cycles, an elongated guideway H0 may be provided, herein shown as extending from the delivery. end of the machine,"

and provided with spaced graduations equal to the, width of the tags and numbered to indicate the, number of ta s. printed when the forward edge of the foremost tag is in alignment with a particular marking or graduation, as illustrated in Fig. 6. When the selected number is reached, the operator may remove the printing die and advance the strip two cycles to. complete the operaticn.

It will be further observedthat. the present machine. may be adjusted to effect complete severance of successive tags by adjustment of the set screw 12 to maintain the toggle linkage in its lengthened or extended position.

While the. preferred embodiment of the invention has been herein illustrated and described it will be understood that the invention may be embodied in other forms within the scope of the following claims.

Having-thus described the invention, what is claimed is:

1. In a machine. of the character described, in combination, tag severing means adapted to effect partial severance of a plurality of successive tags of a strip thereof to form a set of detachably connectedtags, strip advancing means, adjustable means mounted independently ofand adapted for, cooperation with said severing means for effecting complete severance of the set from the strip after a predetermined number, of tags have been partially severed and m ans for. adjusting said last named means to vary the number of tags in a set.

2. In a machine of the character described in which a continuous strip of tag forming material is intermittently advanced one tag increment each cycle of operation, the, combination of tag severin means adapted to effect partial severance of av plurality of. successive tags presented thereto to form a detachably connected series thereof, and means mounted independently of and adapted for controlling said severing means to efiect complete severance of the series from the strip whena predetermined number of tags have been partially severed said control means being manually adjustable to vary the number of tags in a set.

3. In a machine of the character described, in combination, tag severing means adapted to effect partial severance of a predetermined number of successive tags to forma set of detachably connected tags, and means mounted independently of and, adapted for actuating said severing means to effect complete severance of the set after said predetermined number of tags have been partially severed, said last named means being manually adjustable to vary the number. of tags in a set.

4. In a machine of the character described having means for intermittently advancing a continuous strip of tag forming material one tag increment each cycle of operation, tag severing mean adapted to effect partial severance of a predetermined number of successive tags presented thereto to form a set of detachably connected tags, and meansmounted independently of and adapted for controlling said severing means to efliect complete severance of the set from the continuous strip after a predetermined number of said tag increments have been advanced said control means being manually adjustable to vary thenumber of tags in a set.

5. In a machine of the character described, tag severing means, means for operating said severing means to effect slitting of successive.

portions of the, tag; forming material to form a series of detachably connected tags, and a control member mounted independently of said severing means and arranged to cooperate with said operating means to effect complete severance of the series from the tag forming material after a predetermined number of tags have been slit said control member being manually adjusted to vary the number of tags in a set.

6. In a machine of the character described, tag severing means, means for operating said severing means to effect slitting of successive portions of the tag forming material to form a series of detachably connected tags ,and an adjustable control member mounted independently of said severing means and arranged to cooperate with said operating means to effect complete severance of the series from the tag forming material after a predetermined number of tags have been slit said adjustable control memher being adapted to selectively vary the number of tags in a set.

7. In a machine of the character described, tag severing means including a cutter blade, means for operating said cutter blade to effect partial severance of a predetermined number of successive tags to form a detachably connected set thereof, and a regulatable member mounted independently of said severing means and arranged to engage said operating means to effect complete severance of the set after a predetermined number of tags have been partially severed said regulatable member being manually adjustable to selectively vary the number of tags in a set.

8. In a machine of the character described,

I tag severing means including acutter blade having a notched portion intermediate its ends, strip advancing means, and means for operating said cutter blade to efiect slitting of the portion of the strip between successive tags by the unnotched portions of the cutter blade to form a single connected portion medially of and between said adjacent tags and to form a series of detachably connected tags, and an adjustable cam mounted independently of and adapted for cooperation with said severing means for increasing the stroke of the cutter blade to efiect complete severance of the strip after a predetermined number of tags have been partially severed, said an initial starting position whereby to selectively vary the number of tags in a series.

9. In a machine of the character described, tag severing means including a cutter blade having a notched portion intermediate its ends, strip advancing means, means for operating said cutter blade to effect slitting of the portion of the strip between successive tags by the unnotched porttions of the cutter blade to form a single connected portion medially of and between said adjacent tags and to form a series of detachably connected tags, and regulatable means mounted independently of said severing means and arranged to cooperate with said operating means to effect movement of the cutter blade into a position to effect complete severance of the strip by the notched and unnotched portions of the blade after a predetermined number of tags have been slit by the unnotched portions of the cutter blade, said regulatable means being manually adjusted to selectively vary the number of tags in a set.

10. In a machine of the character described, tag severing means including a cutter blade having a normal stroke of operation effective to ill partially sever successive tags of a strip to form a set of detachably connected tags, and regulateble control means mounted independently of said severing means and arranged to actuate said cutter blade through an increased stroke to completely sever the set of tags from the strip after a predetermined number of tags have been partially severed said control means being adjustable to selectively vary the number of tags in a set.

11. In a machine of the character described in which a continuous strip of tag forming material is intermittently advanced one tag increment each cycle of operation, tag severing means comprising a cutter blade having a notched portion intermediate its ends, means for operating said cutter blade through a short stroke to eiiect partial slitting of successive tags presented thereto to form a series of detachably connected tags, and control means mounted independently of said severing means and arranged to cooperate with said operating means to impart a longer stroke to said cutter and to complete severance of the series of detachably connected tags from the strip after a predetermined number of I cycles of operation said control means being adjustable to selectively vary the number of tags in' a series.

12. In a machine of the character described in which a continuous strip of tag forming material is intermittently advanced one tag increment each cycle of operation, tag severing means including a pivotally mounted cutter blade, means for operating said cutter blade including a toggle linkage, means for normally retaining said toggle linkage in a shortened position to effect partial slitting of successive tags presented thereto to form a set of detachably connected tags, and a regulatable control member mounted independently of said severing means and arranged to cooperate with said toggle linkage to efiect lengthening thereof and complete severance of the set of detachably connected tags from the strip after a predetermined number of cycles of operation said regulatable control member being manually adjustable to selectively vary the number of tags in a set.

13. In a machine of the character described, a cutter blade, means for actuating said cutter blade to eifect partial slitting of successive tags to form a detachably connected series thereof, and an intermittently movable and regulatable cam member mounted independently of said cutter blade and arranged to cooperate with said actuating means for elfecting complete severance which a continuous strip of tag forming material is intermittently advanced one tag increment each cycle of operation, tag severing means including a cutter blade, means for operating said cutter blade to effect partial slitting of successive tags to form a detachably connected series thereof, a rotatable cam member mounted independently of said severing means and adapted to cooperate with said operating means, and means for intermittently rotating said cam member through a definite arcuate increment each cycle of operation whereby to dispose the cam in operative position to cooperate with said operating means to effect a complete severance of the series from the strip after a predetermined and selected number of cycles of operation said cam member being manually adjustable to selectively vary the number or tags in a series.

15. in a machine 01' the character described, operative in cycles, a cutter blade, means for actuating said cutter blade to enect partial slitting 01' successive tags to Iorm a detachably connected set thereof, and means mounted independently of said cutter blade and adapted for cooperation with said actuating means to eiiect complete severance of the set after a preselected number of tags have been slit said last named means comprising a movable member, and means for moving said member a definite increment of movement each cycle of operation said movable member being manually adjustable to selectively vary the number of tags in a set.

16. In a machine of the character described in which a continuous strip of tag forming material is intermittently advanced one tag increment each cycle of operation, tag severing means including a cutter blade, means for operating said cutter blade to eiiect partial slitting of successive tags to form a, detachably connected series thereof, a rotatable cam member mounted independently of said severing means and adapted to cooperate with said operating means, and means for intermittently rotating said cam member through a definite arcuate increment each cycle of operation whereby to dispose the cam in operative position to cooperate with said operating means to effect complete severance of the series from the strip after a predetermined and selected number of cycles of operation, said cam being capable of being initially set to selectively vary the number of tags in a series.

17. In a machine of the character described, operative in cycles, a cutter blade, means for actuating said cutter blade to effect partial slitting of successive tags to form a detachably connected 18. In a machine of the character described in which a continuous strip of tag forming material is intermittently advanced one tag increment each cycle of operation, tag severing means including a pivotally mounted cutter blade having a notch intermediate its ends, means including a toggle normally retained in its retracted position for operating said blade through a short stroke to effect partial slitting of successive tags presented thereto and leaving a connecting portion at said notch to form a series of detachably connected tags, an intermittently rotatable cam member mounted independently of said severing means and capable of being initially set so that it will engage said toggle and effect extension thereof after a predetermined number of cycles whereby to effect movement of the cutter byond said notch and complete severance of the last tag of the series from the strip, and means operative during the severing stroke for rotating said cam into operative position to said toggle when a selected number of tags have been partially slit and means for manually adjusting said .cam member to vary the number of tags in a series.

19. In a machine of the character described in which a continuous strip of tag forming material is intermittently advanced one tag increment each cycle of operation, tag severing means including a cutter blade, means for operating said cutter blade to efiect partial slitting of successive tags to form a detachably connected series thereof, a rotatable cam member mounted independently of said severing means and adapted to cooperate with said operating means, means for intermittently rotating said cam member through a definite arcuate increment each cycle of operation whereby to dispose the cam in operative position to cooperate with said operating means to effect complete severance from the strip after a predetermined and selected number of cycles of operation, said cam having spaced and numbered indicia about its periphery equal to said increments of movement and mounted to be capable of being initially set to effect said complete severance after said predetermined number of cycles, and a pointer arranged for cooperation with said numbered graduations to facilitate initial setting of the cam, and means for manually adjusting said cam to selectively vary the number of tags in a series.

20. In a machine of the character described in which a continuous strip of tag forming material is intermittently advanced one tag increment each cycle of operation, tag severing means including a cutter blade, means for operating said cutter blade to effect partial slitting of successive tags to form a detachably connected series thereof, a rotatable cam member mounted independently of said severing means and adapted to cooperate with said operating means, means for intermittently rotating said cam member through a definite arcuate increment each cycle of operation whereby to dispose the cam in operative position to cooperate with said operating means to efiect complete severance from the strip after a predetermined and selected numbr of cycles of operation, said cam having spaced and numbered indicia about its periphery equal to said increments of movement and mounted to be capable'of being initially set to effect said complete severance after said predetermined number of cycles, and a pointer arranged for cooperation with said numbered graduations to facilitate initial setting of the cam, and an elongated member for supporting the detachably connected series as they are intermittently advanced, said member being graduated and marked to indicate the number of tags in the series, and means for manually adjusting said cam to selectively vary the number of tags in said series. I

JOHAN A. CARLSON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 287,249 Crane Oct. 23, 1883 509,854 Sawyer Nov. 28, 1893 519,264 Little May 1, 1894 854,388 Swift May 21, 1907 1,649,194 Ross Nov. 15, 1927 

